Care worker accused of sexually abusing disabled patient

A care worker is accused of sexually abusing a man with disabilities who was in his care.

Police say 70-year-old Anthony Raniello worked for the past two years as a "direct care professional" for the SMILE Agency in Ronkonkoma. The organization provides services to adults with mental disabilities. Police say Raniello's job was to pick up clients and take them on excursions.

Southampton police say they received a call from the SMILE Agency last week to report an alleged incident of sexual abuse. A 21-year-old male client of the agency had reported that he was having anxiety over an incident involving Raniello. The alleged victim said Raniello picked him up, took out him out on a boat and sexually abused him, according to police.

Raniello, who has no prior criminal history, is charged with second-degree criminal sex act, a felony, endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, also a felony, and second-degree sexual abuse, a misdemeanor.

No one answered the door Monday at Raniello's Hampton Bays home. News 12 could not get in contact with anyone at the SMILE Agency for comment.